Curtain-stretcher.



F. H. SCHLEAPPI.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED DE :.8. |916.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

514012441601 lealpl) narran srafrns rafrnnfr ernten.

FREDERICK H. SCHLEAPPI, OF NEW BERLIN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ROY G. SMITH, OF CANTON, OHIO.

CURTAIN-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1918.

Application filed December 8, 1916. Serial No. 135,795.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FREDERICK H. SCHLE- Arrr, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Berlin, in the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Curtain-Stretcher, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in curtain stretchers and has more especial reference to an adjustable knock-down frame upon which lace curtains and the like are stretched after being washed.

The object of the present invention is to provide a curtain stretcher of the character referred to which may be easily and readily assembled or knocked down.

A further object is to provide a curtain stretcher of this character which may be easily and readily adjusted to tit any desired size of curtain.

With these objects in View the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claim, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved curtain stretcher.

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective View of the adjustable cross piece, showing the several parts therefor separated from each other.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective View of a portion of one of the frame members showing the slot which receives the curtain ins.

p Fig. l is a detail perspective view of one of the' curtain pins.

Referring more especially to the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings the numerals 1%-1 indicate the sectional side rails each of which is hingedly formed of two sections hingedly connected together by means of a hinge. 2, a plate 3 being provided to bridge the hinged joint, said plate being connected to the adjacent ends of the two members going to make up each side rail by means of bolts 4f or their equivalents. A central brace 5 connects the two side rails, said brace being attached at one extremity to one of the side rails by means of the adjacent bolt i, a slot 6 being provided in the other extremity thereof through which slot is l0- catpd the adjacent bolt 4- upon the other side rai Fittings 7 are provided at the extremities of each of the side rails for the purpose of connecting the end rails S thereto, bolts 9 being passed through the fittings upon one side rail and through the adjacent extremities of said end rails. Slots 10 are formed in the end rails 8 near their other extremities and the bolts 9 carried in the other side rail are located through said slots. The side rails are provided with longitudinal slots 11 one of said slots being provided in each hinge section of the side rails.

A telescopic rail is slidably connected to the two side rails and arranged to be slidably moved toward each end rail to accommodate curtains of different length, said telescopic rail being so constructed that as the side rails are adjusted toward or away from each other the telescopic rail will be shortened or lengthened by said adjustment to accommodate curtains of different widths. This telescopic rail comprises the two Aend members 12, preferably composed of wood, each of said end members having a iitting 13 at its outer end arranged to be slidably mounted upon the adjacent side rail 1, said fittings being of substantially the same construction as the fittings 7 upon the side rails. bolts 14 passing through the fittings and through the slots 11 of the side rails. Each of the end members 12 is provided with a longitudinal open ended slot 15 adjacent the extremity thereof, which enters the central portion 16 which is preferably composed of sheet metal bent into .rectangular cross section to slidably receive the end members 12. Bolts 17 are located through suitable apertures 18 adjacent the extremities of the central portion 16, said bolts being located through the open ended slots 15 of the end portions 12. lVing nuts 18 are provided upon the extremities of the bolts 17 as well as upon the bolts 4, 9 and 14.

It will be noted that an inclined slot 19 is provided near the inner edge of each of the side and end rails as well as the telescopic rail these slots being arranged to receive curtain pins or hooks 20, each of said hooks comprising the vertical sharpened portion 2l, which receives the edge of the curtain,

the horizontally disposed portion 22 and the inclined downwardly disposed shank 23, which is located within the slot 19. These pins or hooks are located at any desired point along the end, side and telescopic rails as the curtains are placed thereon. For the purpose of easily and readily adjusting the device to any desired size, a scale 2a is marked around the inner edges of the end and side rails.

The central portion 16 or' the telescopic rail is so constructed that for extremely narrow curtains one of the end portions 12 may be removed and the adj acont extremity of the central portion 16 may be slidably connected with the adjacent side rail, the bolt 1-/1 being passed through the aperture 18 of said central portion. A short transverse slot 25 is formed in the central portion 16 connected with the longitudinal slot 19 adjacent the extremity oi said central porL tion which may be attached to the side rail as aboife described. In order to accomplish this attachment to the side rail the central portion 1G is cut away at its side edges as shown at 26, thus forming upper and lower ears 27 similar to the fitting 13. lt will be noted that a small aperture 28 is provided in each oi the fittings 7 and 13 and also in the upper ear 27 above mentioned, each of these apertures registering with the slots 19 and being arranged to receive a curtain pin or hook 20, which pins or hooks receive the corners of the curtain desired to be stretched.

For the purpose of bracing the frame, bars 29, preferably formed of metal, may be attached across the corners of the` trame as shown in Fig. 1, said bars being connected to the end and side rails by means of pins 30 or their equivalents, thus strengthening the structure when the device is set up and ready for use. Then it desired to knock the stretcher down for the purpose of shipping or storing, the wing nuts will be removed from all of the bolts Ll, 9 and 1&1-, and the telescopic rail.

Lasaear bolts removed7 except the bolt 1 at the upper extremity of the central brace 5, Fig. 1, and the bolt 14 at the upper extremity of the These two wing nut-s are merely loosened, the bolts being left to oonneet the members as pivots. The lower of the side rails 1 may now be removed, and folded upon the hinge 2. 'The bolt l con necting the upper end of the central brace 5 and upper side rail 1 will act as a pivot to permit the brace to be swung upwardly and into alinement with the side rail to lie beneath the said side rail. In like manner the telescopic rail can be moved to one eXtremity of the slot 11 and then swung into alinenient above the .sa id side rail. The upper side rail may now be folded on the hinge 2 and the end rails S pivoting upon the pins 30 and bars 29 are now folded against the sides of the side rails.

lt will thus be seen that my stretcher can be collapsed completely and will still remain in but two major sections, the lower side rail forming one section and the remaining parts the other section.

I claim:

A curtain stretcher' of the character described, comprising a pair of slotted end rails7 a slotted side rail secured at its ends to one end of each end rail, a second slotted side rail slidably mounted upon the end rails, each of said side rails being formed of two substantially equal sections hinged t0- gether, removable means for holding said tinged sections in extended position and a telescopic rail slidably mounted between said side rails and a brace member connected to each et said end rails and to said iirst side rail and designed to brace the said stretcher when the said stretcher is in extended position and to form hinges between said first siderail and said end rails when it :is desired to collapse the said stretcher.

1n testimony that l claim the above, l have hereunto subscribed my name.

FREDERICK H. SCHLEAPPI.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

